China reiterates 'free, safe' Hormuz call amid US-Iran strikes

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday reiterated Beijing's demand for unimpeded maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the waterway must remain open to serve the interests of all nations amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Lin said: "The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming free and safe passage in the strait at an early date serves interests of all sides," adding that transit through the critical chokepoint should be "properly handled."

Exchange of Strikes

His remarks came as both Washington and Tehran announced fresh retaliatory strikes, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and radar installations in neighboring Oman, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

The US military said it had "completed a new wave of offensive" operations targeting dozens of Iranian military sites aimed at degrading Tehran's capacity to strike international shipping routes, according to officials in Washington.

Collapse of Peace Efforts

The exchanges marked the latest surge in violence following weeks of tit-for-tat incidents in the strategic strait — a vital artery for global oil and gas shipments that has witnessed repeated attacks on commercial vessels in recent weeks.

The renewed fighting effectively scuttled a memorandum of understanding signed last month under Pakistani mediation that had sought to end the conflict and establish a lasting peace framework. US President Donald Trump said the agreement was "over," leaving diplomatic channels frozen as military operations intensified along one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.